John Ralston Saul Quotes
If individuals do not occupy their legitimate position, then it will be occupied by a god or a king or a coalition of interest groups. If citizens do not exercise the powers confered by their legitimacy, others will do so.
(I - The Great Leap Backwards)
Saul, John Ralston. The Unconscious Civilization. House of Anansi Press, 1995, p. 35.
The Visigoth king was, like other kings all powerful but within certain traditions. Whereas other kings were crowned with a concept of Divine Right, the Visigoth king’s reign was formally contingent on his performance.
Whoever has the political control of the central government generally favors more centralized power and less decentralization. The opposition wanting to weaken the majority, tends to favor decentralization and states’ rights and the local governments.
In 2016 there was a military coup and Erdogan was in danger of losing control and beoing ousted. However, he made this plea to his supporters amont the citizenry, and they, including many from the military, put down the coup.
John Ralston Saul CC OOnt is a Canadian writer, political philosopher, and public intellectual. Saul is most widely known for his writings on the nature of individualism, citizenship and the public good; the failures of manager-led societies; the confusion between leadership and managerialism; military strategy, in particular irregular warfare; the role of freedom of speech and culture; and critiques of the prevailing economic paradigm. He is a champion of freedom of expression and was the International President of PEN International, an association of writers. Saul is the co-founder and co-chair of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, a national charity promoting the inclusion of new citizens. He is also the co-Founder and co-Chair of 6 Degrees, the global forum for inclusion. Saul is also the husband to the former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, making him the Viceregal consort of Canada during most of her service (1999-2005).
